When Will It Be Showtime For Spielberg?

Showtime’s announcement of an exclusive output deal with Disney that includes up to 35 DreamWorks films through 2015 begs the question: will Steven Spielberg get behind the camera and deliver one before that deal is up? A flirtation with Paramount to do Matt Helm with Jon Hamm cratered, as did an attempt to do Harvey with Robert Downey Jr. at Fox 2000. Since then, guessing Spielberg’s next move has become a parlor game at the agencies.

The latest title gaining steam among speculators is Robopocalypse, now that Cloverfield screenwriter Drew Goddard has been hired to adapt the Daniel H Wilson epic about the human race’s attempt to survive an apocalyptic robot uprising. Wilson hasn’t finished the book yet, but word is Goddard has gotten underway and that it’s a serious candidate. Let’s face it, a big ticket Spielberg-directed tent pole would be a smashing way to start DreamWorks’ new partnership with Reliance. There continues to be a lot of chatter about War Horse, which started when Spielberg traveled to London recently to see the stage adaptation of the Michael Morpugo novel . DreamWorks acquired the book last year and hired Lee Hall to write the script. Fading on the speculation meter is Gershwin, which had way more buzz a month ago when Deadline revealed Zachary Quinto–the Star Trek and Heroes star–would play the composer. Studio insiders say Spielberg hasn’t chosen, and candidates like The 39 Clues, and the Lincoln Civil War project should not be dismissed. “We’re all waiting, we’d all love to know,” said the source.

The Spielberg-directed The Adventures of Tin Tin: The Secret of the Unicorn won’t be part of the Showtime deal, because the film was financed by Paramount and Sony. Because Paramount has domestic distribution, Tin Tin will be an Epix title. The first DreamWorks film in the new Showtime contract will be Real Steel, with Hugh Jackman starring and Shawn Levy directing.